Mormon Succession Guided by Tradition

Associated Press/January 28, 2008

Salt Lake City - The president of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints serves for life and, upon his death, the succession
of the next leader is a process guided by long-standing tradition.

In the male-dominated church, senior leadership is divided into two
governing bodies, the First Presidency - the president and his two
counselors - and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Like the
president, all members of the Quorum also serve until death.

When a president dies, the First Presidency is dissolved and his two
counselors resume their place of seniority on the Quorum. That
seniority is determined by the date on which an apostle is called to
serve in the Quorum.

With the First Presidency dissolved, the Quorum assumes management of
the church until a new president is appointed.

By tradition, the most senior apostle is typically named president,
although the Quorum meets to discuss and pray about the decision.

Thomas S. Monson, 80, who has been Gordon B. Hinckley's first
counselor since 1995 is in line for the presidency following
Hinckley's death on Sunday. Monson became a member of the Quorum in
1963, five years after Hinckley.

If he is named president, Monson will then select two men to serve as
his counselor, creating a vacancy in the Quorum. Filling that slot
also falls to the church president.

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